Order (Term Suspension/Stayed) entered by Justice Kafker on March 9

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SJC No. 2026-017
In re: John Ventura
126 North Main St.
Newton, MA 03858

Order (Term Suspension/Stayed) entered by Justice Kafker on March 9, 2026

The respondent was suspended based on a Petition for Reciprocal Discipline arising from an order of suspension entered by the New Hampshire Supreme Court following several violations of New Hampshire’s Rules of Professional Conduct.

Summary

The respondent, John Ventura, is an attorney duly admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth on June 17, 2015, and is also admitted to practice in the State of New Hampshire. On November 14, 2025, the New Hampshire Supreme Court issued an order suspending the respondent for one year, with the suspension stayed for one year subject to conditions.

As to the grounds for discipline in New Hampshire, the respondent stipulated that he violated N.H. Rules Prof. C. 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 8.4(a) in connection with his representation of clients in a civil action for partition, which was an area of law outside of his expertise. The respondent filed an answer in the case on behalf of his clients, but he then failed to provide opposing counsel with automatic disclosures mandated by New Hampshire Superior Court Rule 22. This omission ultimately resulted in the entry of a default judgment against the respondent’s clients, an order to pay the opposing party over $24,000 in attorney’s fees and the eviction of the respondent’s clients from their home. Throughout his representation, the respondent neglected to track deadlines, respond to pleadings in the case, keep his clients informed about the case and promptly respond to opposing counsel.

On February 3, 2026, pursuant to S.J.C. Rule 4:01, §16, Bar Counsel filed a Petition for Reciprocal Discipline with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County. The respondent waived hearing and assented to the entry of a reciprocal order of discipline. On March 9, 2026, the Court (Kafker, J.) entered an order suspending the respondent from the practice of law in Massachusetts for one year, with the execution of the suspension stayed for one year and conditioned upon the respondent’s compliance with the Order entered by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.